Drink Driving

Low level drink driving, namely 0.103.

Drink driving is a common term used to cover the two offences which relate to drinking and driving. Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and exceeding the Prescribed Concentration of Alcohol in the blood (PCA).

It is an offence to consume more than a specific amount of alcohol and drive a vehicle and, if found guilty of drink driving, you may be disqualified from holding a driver’s licence for up to a period of 3 years. Our criminal lawyers at Caldicott Lawyers are experts all driving matters and specifically in drink driving matters.

The maximum penalty the Court may impose varies depending on your blood alcohol reading and whether or not you have committed this offence before.

If your blood alcohol reading was between 0.05 grams and 0.079 grams, the following penalties apply:

• First Offence $1,100, automatic disqualification of not less than 3 months, 4 demerit points incurred
• Second Offence $1,100, automatic disqualification of not less than 6 months, 4 demerit points incurred
• Third Offence $1,100, automatic disqualification of not less than 9 months, 4 demerit points incurred

If your blood alcohol reading was between 0.08 grams and 0.149 grams, the following penalties apply:

• First Offence $1,300, automatic disqualification of not less than 6 months, 5 demerit points incurred
• Second Offence $1,600, automatic disqualification of not less than 1 year, 5 demerit points incurred
• Third Offence $2,200, automatic disqualification of not less than 2 years, 5 demerit points incurred

If your blood alcohol reading was above 0.15 grams, the following penalties apply:

• First Offence $1,600, automatic disqualification of not less than 1 year, 6 demerit points incurred
• Second Offence $2,400, automatic disqualification of not less than 3 years, 6 demerit points incurred
• Third Offence $2,900, automatic disqualification of not less than 3 years, 6 demerit points incurred

It may be possible to reduce these penalties if the offence was trifling.

The client was charged with low level drink driving, namely driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.103. The client was issued with an instant licence disqualification. An appeal was issued on the basis that the officer had not provided the client with the correct blood rights. Ultimately, the appeal was successful and the defendant’s licence was reinstated, and the charges withdrawn on the basis that her rights had been interfered with.